Article wrapping machine



Sept. i9, i967 KAQRU KAWASAKI ETAL ARTICLE WRAPPING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 9, 1964 Sept. 19, 3967,., KAORU KAWASAKI lETAL. 3,342,015

ARTICLE WRAPPING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed OCL. 9, 1964 INVENTORS.

KAORU KAWASK/ YASU/CH/ KAI/MTA SEA/ZO K0 TO au] ,ff

mmm umm umm SON um# SS o QMQ\ um@ l' e@ Q mj @mm lm |,1l E r MN Mm QN um w@ s KILIM@ ,@IIIIQVIIIWMLMI MMAMUIM Filed Oct. 9, 1964 Sept. 19, 1967 KAORU KAwAsAKa ETAL 3,342,015

ARTICLE WRAPP ING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 55 9djg/za :mm ml VVEVTRS. a, /2/ KAG/w KAM/ASAH 2%@ @www United States Patent O 3,342,015 ARTICLE WRAPPING MACHINE Kaoru Kawasaki, Mozu Akahata-Inachi, Sakai, and

Yasuichi Kawata and Senza Koto, Sakai, Japan, as-

signors to Tenchi Kikai Company, Inc., Sakai,

Osaka, Japan Filed Get. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 402,815 3 Claims. (Cl. 53-217) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLGSURE A high speed twist wrapping machine utilizing a single drive means establishing positive mechanical intercoupling and velocity-correlated invariable synchronization between all linearly advancing cooperating machine elements, including means for propelling a wrapping web, means for gripping and advancing articles to be wrapped, means for severing the web at longitudinally spaced positions between articles carried thereon to provide tubular article-containing segments, and means for clamping and twisting ends of the segments to provide wrapped articles.

This invention relates to an article wrapping machine for packaging individual articles in paper, plastic sheet, or similar wrappers. More particularly, the invention is directed to an automatic and completely synchronized machine for wrapping comestibles such as candy and gum in individual wrappers as separate, discrete articles.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention pertains to a packaging method and apparatus whereby the individual articles to be wrapped are positioned at controlled spaced intervals on a moving elongated sheet or web. The sheet is then continuously curled or formed into a cylindrical or tubular body. As the web continues its progression each article is held in its relative position by means of cooperaing ngers or holders which grip the article through its enveloping wrapper. As the tubular body and the articles supported therein move continuously in a lengthwise direction, the packing sheet which denes the tubular body is severed at longitudinal spaced positions before and behind the packed articles to form segments, and the articles continue their movement together with their holders. The ends of the wrapper segments are grasped and twisted to complete the article packaging operation. Finally, the holders automatically release the wrapped article into a storage receptacle or other receiver.

It is the aim of the present invention to provide an improved machine for wrapping individual articles such as comestibles including candy and gum.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a packaging machine which functions completely automatically and in which the various components are carefully synchronized so that the machine may be speeded up or slowed down without interfering with its general operation.

A related object of the invention is to provide an article wrapping machine of improved etliciency, speed, and reliability.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a completely automatic sanitary machine for wrapping comestibles, which machine obviates any need to manipulate by hand or to touch the articles being wrapped.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an article wrapping machine capable of a greatly increased production or output rate.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following speciiication taken in conjunction with the drawing in which:

FIGURE l is a plan view, somewhat schematic in 3,342,151 Patented Sept. 19, 1967 form, depicting a wrapping machine embodying the principles of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the machine;

FIGURES 3 through 7 are elevational views of the article gripping assembly and the wrapper twisting assemblies at various progressive stages in their synchronized operation sequence;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged plan View of the article gripping assembly and its actuating mechanism, taken on the line 8 8 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURES 9 and l0 are detailed views of the actuating mechanism for twisting the ends of Wrappers, and are taken, respectively, on the lines 9-9 and 11i-10 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 1l is an enlarged detail of the strip cutter structure, taken on the line 11-11 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 12 is a detailed view, partly in section, of one of the wrapper twisting assemblies; and

FIGURE 13 is a view of the completed wrapped article.

Referring more particlarly to the drawings, there is shown in FIGURES l and 2, for the purpose of illustrative disclosure, a preferred embodiment of the wrapping machine of the invention. In the particular example illustrated, a hopper or dispenser 11, which may take any preferredform, delivers articles 13 such as candy or gum balls through a regulating gate 15 onto a horizontally disposed linearly advancing sheet or web 17 of paper, plastic or similar wrapper material. Positioning bars 19 ensure the regularity of spacing between successive articles 13 carried on the moving web 17. The advancing web passes through a former 23 which shapes or bends the web 17 so that opposed elongated lateral edges 25 and 27 approach and overlap to form a tube or conduit 31 which then continues its advance, uninterrupted, in synchronism with the other components and assemblies of the overall machine.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, an endless chain belt 41, and a parallelly disposed chain belt 41a therebelow extend around chain wheels or sprockets 43 and 45 secured respectively to driven shaft 47 and driving shaft 49. Attached to and supported between the chain belts 41 at spaced intervals around the peripheries thereof are article gripping assemblies 51 including an attachment plate 53, a rotary seat plate 55 positioned on the front surface of the attachment plate 53, and an actuator wheel 59 supported on the rear surface of the attachment plate 53, so that the seat plate 55 is rotatable with the actuator Wheel 59. An actuator rod 61 extends axially through the entire assembly for -controlling a pair of pivotally mounted article holders 63 and 63a oppose holds fingers 63 and 63a in a normally closed position for gripping the articles therebetween. Spaced stationary cams 77 and 79 are provided to bear against the head of the actuator rod 61 to open the fingers 63 and 63a for insertion of the articles 13 therebetween and, later, for

the release of the wrapped articles therefrom (FIGURE 8) tical shaft 49 for rotation therewith are generally circular mounting plates 81 and 81a about the periphery of which are disposed a plurality of annularly spaced upper and lower wrapper gripping and twisting assemblies S5 and 85a, the annular distance between adjacent assemblies 65 and 65a through a ends with an annular v groove 73 1n one end of the actuator rod 61 and a spring 75 mounted on the head portion of the actuator rod 61 As illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, supported on veri corresponding to the linear spacing between successive article gripping assemblies 51 carried on the belts 41 and 41a. The structure of each of the twisting assemblies 85 and 85a includes vertically extending slide seat plates 89 and 89a connected to a transversely projecting rod 91 and 91a extending through attachment plates 93 and 93a. Return springs 119 and 119e are connected to the rods 113 and 113a (FIGURE 12).

The lslide seat plates 89 and 89a are provided on their front surfaces with Vrespective bearings 99 and 99a in which are rotatably supported opposed vertically extending and positionable fixed wrapper clamping arms 101 and 101a and cooperating corresponding pivotal or opening and closing arms 103 and 10351. Pinions 107 and 107er are secured to the respective rotary shafts 109 of the clamping and twisting arm assemblies 85. Actuator rods 113 and 113a fitted on the rotary shafts have annular grooves 115 and 115e adapted to receive actuator projections 117 and 117a of the pivotal arms 103 and 1030 (FIGURE 12). Springs 119 and 119a mounted on the head portions 121 and 121a of the actuator rods 113 and 113a ensure that the opening and closing arms 103 and 103a are held in a normally closed position for pivotal opening about their transverse support shafts 123 and 123a. The manner in which cams serve to position the wrapper-enclosed article and to actuate in turn the control rods 113 and 113a and the slide seat plates S9 and 89a during the Wrapper grasping and twisting operations will become evident .as the description proceeds.

In the embodiment of the machine illustrated in FIG- URES l and 2 shaft 49 is driven by means of a chain belt 131 trained about a chain wheel or sprocket wheel 133 fastened to the shaft 49. The belt 131 is also looped about a chain wheel 135 supported on a drive shaft 137 which is coupled through a chain wheel 141 and a chain belt 143 to a motor 145. The chain belt 131 also drives a packing strip cutting assembly 151 which serves to provide the strip segments 153 in which individual articles are wrapped. The cutting assembly, actuated through a gear Wheel 155 and a drive shaft 157 includes a pair of cutter blades 161 and 161a intimately placed upon each other in a scissors fashion and secured respectively to the ends of rotary shafts 163 and 163a so that the blades may cross the path of travel of the packing paper sheet 17 and be rotated in mutually opposite directions. Chain wheels 165 and 165e on rotary shafts 163 and 163er are connected to corresponding chain wheels 171 and 171a on a pair of bevel gear shafts 173 and 17 3a through chain belts 175 and 175a while bevel gears 177 and 177a of the bevel gear shafts 173 and 173a mesh with a common bevel gear 179 on the drive shaft 157.

The general construction of the various components of the machine of the invention having been described and their interrelation and cooperation having been indicated, it is believed that the following brief recitation of the overall operation of the synchronized machine will provide a complete understanding of the invention and its inherent advantages.

Packing paper sheet 17, carrying spaced articles 13 and fed horizontally (FIGURE l) in parallel with the rectilinearly moving portion 181 of the endless chain belt 41, is formed into a cylindrical tube 31 in which the articles 13 to be wrapped are spaced at intervals equal to the spacing of the attachment plates 53 carried by the endless chain belts 41 and 41a. When the attachment plates 53 and their associated article gripping fingers 63 and 63a move around the chain wheels with the advance of the endless belts 41 and 41a, the head of the actuator rod 61 contacts the stationary cam 77 and pushes the rod 61 out against the pressure of the spring 75 to open the fingers 63 and 63a to receive therebetween an article 13 carried on the strip 17. As the article gripping assembly 51 moves away from the cam 77 the fingers 63 and 63a close firmly on the sheet-covered article. Thus, each article-containing portion or segment 153 of the sheet 17 is gripped in turn by a set `of holders or fingers 63 and 63a and the web is advanced in the direction of travel shown in FIGURE 1 and at the speed of the chain belts 41 and 41a. Endless chain belt 131, moving at the same linear speed and in synchronism with chains 41 and 41a drives the cutter assembly 151 (FIGURE l1) causing the cutter blades 161 and 161g to rotate in opposite directions across the sheet 17 in front of the holders 63 and 63a t-o sever the packing paper 17 between the article-containing portions.

When a set of holding fingers 63 and 63a advances a distance equal to the spacing from an adjacent pair to advance the packing paper 17 an equal distance, the next set of holding fingers opens to receive and clamp upon the next portion or segment 153 of the packing paper containing the packed article 13, and the cutter blades 161 and 161a turn again to sever the portion of the packing paper positioned in front (beyond) the holders. In this manner there is provided a severed segment 153 of the packing paper containing a single article. This segment, held in the fingers 63 and 63a, advances with the chain belts 41 and 41a.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2, and more particularly to FIGURES 3 through 7, as the article gripping assembly 51 carrying the article 13 moves linearly along with the chain belts 41 and 41a, the wrapper segment 153 approaches the wrapper gripping and twisting assemblies and 85a supported on the plates 81 and 81a associated with the shaft 49. The actuator wheel 59 of the rotary seat plate 55 comes into stressed Contact with and slides upon a slide block 191 (FIGURE 5) to turn so that the packing paper segment is set upright with its upper and lower ends 193 and 195 positioned so that they may be grasped by clamping arms 101 and 103 and 101a and 103a.

Concurrently, the actuator rods 113 and 113a of the shiftable or slide seat plates S9 and 89a are pushed out as their head portions 121 and 121a come into contact with cams 201 and 201:1 (FIGURE 5) whereupon the annular grooves and 115a in the actuator rods 113 and 113a are displaced vertically to move the actuator projections 117 and 11'7a causing the pivotal arms 103 and 103a to swing outwardly so that the ends 193 and 195 of the wrapper segment are received between respective cooperating clamping arms 103 and 101 and 103a and 101:1. As the heads 121 and 121e disengage the cams 201 and 201a the spring stressed actuator rods 113 and 113a retract and clamping arms 103 and 101 and 103a and 101e close to grasp the ends 193 and 195 of the wrapper segment (FIGURE 6). Pinions 107 and 107a then engage and mesh with respective arcuate racks 209 and 209e to rotate the clamping assemblies 85 and 85a in opposite directions twisting the clamped upper and lower ends 193 and 195 of the packing segment while the slide -seat plates S9 and 89a are pushed by cams 211 and 211a to bring the clamping assemblies 85 and 85a closer to one another to obviate damage to the packing paper being twisted (FIGURES 7, 9, and 10). Finally, the actuator rods 113 and 113a are pushed out by cams 215 and 21551 to open the clamping members 103 and 103a to release the ends of the packed article. A slide block 217 engages the actuator wheel 59 to rotate the wheel 90 returning the fingers 63 and 63a to their original spacial disposition and ready to engage another paper wrapped article, to repeat the cycle described. Finally, the head of actuator rod 61 engages a cam 79 to open the gripping fingers 63 and 63a and to release the wrapped article into a bin, conveyor, or other receiver 221.

While disclosures of preferred embodiments of the packaging machine of the invention have been provided, it will be apparent that numerous modifications and variations thereof may be made without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. It is, therefore,

desired by the following claims t-o include within the scope of the invention all `such variations and modifications by which the results of this invention may be obtained through the use of substantially the same or equivalent means.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for continuously and automatically packaging individual articles in separate finite segments of a formed tubular sheet-like wrapping material, said apparatus comprising, in combination:

motor means and cooperating belt means for driving said apparatus;

a web of said wrapping material adapted to move in a generally lengthwise direction;

positioning means for placing said articles at predetermined regularly spaced intervals on said lengthwise moving web;

forming means for continuously shaping said moving web to define an elongated generally tubular body; linearly advancing gripping means operable to grasp and hold said articles through said web and comprising means gripping and pulling said web forwardly as said articles move with said web;

web cutting means positioned forwardly of at least one of said gripping means for severing said moving tubular `body between article containing portions thereof to provide nite segments of said tubular body, each said segments containing an article to be wrapped;

rotating means for positioning each said segments to present opposed ends of said segments for subsequent twisting operations;

means for gripping and twisting each said segments at said opposed ends thereof to provide individually wrapped articles;

and means positively intercoupling said web, said article gripping means, said means gripping said web and said gripping and twisting means in mechanically keyed and locked synchronization at identical linear speeds and driving said web cutting means in -synchronization with linear movement of said moving web;

whereby all linearly advancing ele-ments of said apparatus are maintained in predetermined xed relative positions in absolute and locked synchronization, and whereby said synchronization is automatically maintained irrespective of changes in speed of said drive means and said linearly advancing elements.

2. In apparatus for continuously and automatically packaging individual articles in separate finite segments of a formed tubular sheet-like wrapping material, and comprising, in combination:

forming means for continuously shaping a moving elongated web to define a generally tubular body; article gripping and web propelling means for automatically grasping and holding linearly spaced articles carried in said tubular body and for moving said web forwardly; web cutting means synchronized with respect to positions `of said articles carried in said body to sever finite segments of said tubular body to define wrappers for said articles, each said segments containing an article to be wrapped; wrapper clamping and twisting means synchronized for linear movement with said article gripping means and adapted to grasp opposed free ends of said wrapper and to twist said opposed free ends to provide a web-wrapped article; the improvement wherein said `web-cutting means is operable subsequent to grasping of said articles by said article gripping and web propelling means, and further comprising positive drive means propelling said web, said article gripping means, and said web clamping and twisting means in mechanically keyed and locked synchronization at identical linear speeds and driving said web cutting means in synchronization with linear movement -of said moving web; whereby all linearly advancing elements of said apparatus are maintained in predetermined xed relative positions in absolute and locked synchronization, and whereby said synchronization is automatically maintained irrespective or changes in speed of said drive means and said linearly advancing elements. 3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said clamping and twisting means comprises a plurality of annularly spaced assemblies including cooperating pairs of upper and lower members, and wherein annular distance as measured between adjacent said assemblies corresponds to linear spacing between successive said linearly advancing gripping means holding said articles and gripping and pulling :said web.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 520,751 11/ 1894 Weinman et al 53-370 X 3,001,351 9/1961 Brook et al. 53--370 3,131,522 5/1964 Latini et al 53-370 X 3,279,149 10/ 1966 Latini et al. 53-217 X GRANVILLE Y. CUSTER, JR., Primary Examiner, 

1. APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY AND AUTOMATICALLY PACKAGING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES IN SEPARATE FINITE SEGMENTS OF A FORMED TUBULAR SHEET-LIKE WRAPPING MATERIAL, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: MOTOR MEANS AND COOPERATING BELT MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID APPARATUS; A WEB OF SAID WRAPPING MATERIAL ADAPTED TO MOVE IN A GENERALLY LENGTHWISE DIRECTION; POSITIONING MEANS FOR PLACING SAID ARTICLES AT PREDETERMINED REGULARLY SPACED INTERVALS ON SAID LENGTHWISE MOVING WEB; FORMING MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY SHAPING SAID MOVING WEB TO DEFINE AN ELONGATED GENERALLY TUBULAR BODY; LINEARLY ADVANCING GRIPPING MEANS OPERABLE TO GRASP AND HOLD SAID ARTICLES THROUGH SAID WEB AND COMPRISING MEANS GRIPPING AND PULLING SAID WEB FORWARDLY AS SAID ARTICLES MOVE WITH SAID WEB; WEB CUTTING MEANS POSITIONED FORWARDLY OF AT LEAST ONE OF SAID GRIPPING MEANS FOR SEVERING SAID MOVING TUBULAR BODY BETWEEN ARTICLE CONTAINING PORTIONS THEREOF TO PROVIDE FINITE SEGMENTS OF SAID TUBULAR BODY, EACH SAID SEGMENTS CONTAINING AN ARTICLE TO BE WRAPPED; ROTATING MEANS FOR POSITIONING EACH SAID SEGMENTS TO PRESENT OPPOSED ENDS OF SAID SEGMENTS FOR SUBSEQUENT TWISTING OPERATIONS; MEANS FOR GRIPPING AND TWISTING EACH SAID SEGMENTS AT SAID OPPOSED ENDS THEREOF TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED ARTICLES; AND MEANS POSITIVELY INTERCOUPLING SAID WEB, SAID ARTICLE GRIPPING MEANS, SAID MEANS GRIPPING SAID WEB AND SAID GRIPPING AND TWISTING MEANS IN MECHANICALLY KEYED AND LOCKED SYNCHRONIZATION AT IDENTICAL LINEAR SPEEDS AND DRIVING SAID WEB CUTTING MEANS IN SYNCHRONIZATION WITH LINEAR MOVEMENT OF SAID MOVING WEB; WHEREBY ALL LINEARLY ADVANCING ELEMENTS OF SAID APPARATUS ARE MAINTAINED IN PREDETERMINED FIXED RELATIVE POSITIONS IN ABSOLUTE AND LOCKED SYNCHRONIZATION, AND WHEREBY SAID SYNCHRONIZATION IS AUTOMATICALLY MAINTAINED IRRESPECTIVE OF CHANGES IN SPEED OF SAID DRIVE MEANS AND SAID LINEARLY ADVANCING ELEMENTS. 